sleepy eye in HAWAII: 2013

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

On Instagram:

Monday, September 30, 2013

DIAMOND HEAD (Lē‘ahi) STATE MONUMENT

Tourist Info:
Opens Daily including holidays - Tunnel gate closes at 18:00 and reopens at 06:00
Last time to start the hike is 16:30
Website

Fare:
Individuals
US$1 per pedestrian
US$5 per car
Cash only

Features:
1.3km (one-way) Trail Hike (from the trailhead to the summit of Diamond Head Crater), and 560 feed (171m) climb from the crater floor.
Sweeping views of south-eastern O'ahu coastline towards Koko Head and the offshore islands of Moloka'i, Lana'i and Maui.

Recommend:
Allow 1.5-2 hours for a leisurely round-trip hike.

Brochure Info:
Lē‘ahi is believed to have been formed about 300,000 years ago during a single, brief eruption. The broad crater covers 350 acres with its width being greater than its height.
It is said that Hi'iaka, sister of the fire goddess Pele, gave Lē‘ahi its name because the summit resembles the forehead (lae) of the 'ahi fish. Another translation is "fire headland" and refers to the navigational fires that were lit at the summit to assist canoes travelling along the shoreline.

Thursday, September 26, 2013

ALA MOANA Hawaii's Center

Shop Info:
☺☺☺☺
1450 Ala Moana Boulevard, Honolulu, HI 96814, USA
☎ +1-808-955-9517
Opens Mon-Sat 09:30-21:00

Sun 10:00-19:00
Company website

Access:
Bus
From Waikiki ~ take TheBus 8, 19, 20, 23, 24 or 42
From North Shore ~ take TheBus 55 Honolulu - Ala Moana
From Honolulu International Airport ~ take TheBus 19 or 20

Trolley
Pink Line Shopping Trolleys run between the Center and Waikiki, 7 days a week, every 10-12 mins.
Drop-off and pickup at Ala Moana Center are at the Ala Moana Boulevard Trolley Depot.
Fare US$2 each way.

Features:

World's largest open-air shopping center

Complimentary Hawaiian hula show (Mon-Sat 1pm)

HYATT REGENCY WAIKIKI Beach Resort & Spa

Hotel Info:
☺☺☺
★★★★
2424 Kalakaua Avenue, Honolulu, Hawaii 96815-3289

☎ +1 808 923 1234
Hotel website

Comments:
If you are not choosing a hotel that is right on the Waikiki beachfront (if either fully booked or you find it too pricey), this is a good alternative choice which is conveniently located across from Waikiki Beach - just slip into your swimming suits, walk out of the hotel building, cross the road and you're on Waikiki Beach (no buildings blocking the way).

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

COURTYARD by MARRIOTT KING KAMEHAMEHA'S KONA BEACH HOTEL

Hotel Info:
☺☺☺
★★★★ Resort Hotel
75-5660 Palani Road, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740
☎ +1 (808) 329-2911
Hotel website

Hotel Rates:
Standard Twin US$158.10 (Sep 2013, Easy Click Travel)

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

UNCLE GEORGE'S LOUNGE, Volcano House Hotel

Restaurant Info:
☺☺
Volcano House Hotel, 1 Crater Rim Drive, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, HI 96718
☎ 808-756-9625
Opens daily 11:00-21:00
Website

Features:
Dining with direct view of the Halama'uma'u crater

Snack & bar menu

Natural Pacific Tofu & Pahoa Vegetable Egg Rolls US$11

Michelle's Kuahiwi Ranch Sliders US$12

STEAM VENTS

Info:
Crater Rim Drive, Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, HI 96718
National Park Service website

HAWAI'I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK

Tourist Info:
Crater Rim Drive, Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, HI 96718

(45 min. drive from Hilo; or 2-2½ hr. drive from Kailua-Kona)Open 24 hours a day, year-round, including all public holidays
Admission: US$10 per vehicle / US$5 per individual (valid 7 consecutive days)
NPS website

Features:
Kīlauea crater (a shield volcano)

Kīlauea Visitor Center (Opens daily 07:45-17:00, with rangers on duty from 08:45-17:00)

Jaggar Museum (Opens daily 08:30-19:30)

Volcano House Hotel accommodation

hiking trails

Recommend:
Tour by car along the Crater Rim Drive and Chain of Craters Road
Check with the rangers at the Visitor Centers for the latest conditions

Comments:

To get the closest look at the Kīlauea crater, you will need to go to the Jaggar Museum. Suggest you to make a visit during the day and at night.

read about Mauna Loa - the world's largest active volcano

CRATER RIM DRIVE & CHAIN OF CRATERS ROAD

Info:

National Park Service website

Park Map

Features:
Stop #1 Start Your Tour at Kīlauea Visitor Center
Stop #2 Jaggar Museum
Stop #3 Kīlauea Overlook
Stop #4 Steam Vents, Steaming Bluff and Ha'akulamanu - Sulphur Banks
Stop #5 Kīlauea Iki Overlook
Stop #6 Nāhuku - Thurston Lava Tube
Stop #7 Puʻu Puaʻi Overlook
Stop #8 Devastation Trail
Stop #9 Hike to Keanakākoʻi Crater

Monday, September 23, 2013

THE RIM RESTAURANT, Volcano House Hotel

Restaurant Info:
☺☺
Volcano House Hotel, 1 Crater Rim Drive, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, HI 96718
☎ 808-756-9625
Opens daily
Breakfast Buffet 07:00-10:00
Lunch 11:00-14:00
Dinner 17:00-21:00
Website

Features:

Dining with direct view of the Halama'uma'u crater

we didn't get a table by the window as we didn't book in advance but we could still manage to see the red glow from
where we sat

Kalua Pork & White Pineapple Pizza US$12

Rare Seared Kona Kampachi US$34

VOLCANO HOUSE HOTEL

Hotel Info:
☺☺☺☺
★★★½
1 Crater Rim Drive, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, HI 96718

☎ 808-756-9625, Reservations 808-441-7750 or 1-866-536-7972 (Toll-Free)

Hotel website

Hotel Rates:
Standard Room, 2 Queen beds US$250 per room/night excl. tax (General Excise Tax $10.42, Transient Accommodations Tax $23.13), rates for 1-2 ppl, max. occupancy per room is 4 (Sep 2013, via Hotel website)
Offer of US$50 dining credit for every 2 nights stay

℗ Free parking available (note: US$10 entrance fee per non-commercial vehicle to be paid upon entering the Volcano National Park, or US$5 per individual travelling on foot, bicycle or motorcycle, valid for 7 consecutive days)

Features:

The only hotel located within the volcano park on the rim of the Kilauea caldera with a view of the Halama'uma'u crater from the hotel lanai & dining areas

Dining room (The Rim Restaurant)
Snack bar & lounge (Uncle George's Lounge)
Gift shops

Campsites & Cabins available as well (check hotel website for details)

Comments:

If you plan to stay overnight around the volcano, I would recommend you to stay at this place inside the Volcano Park to get the up close experience rather than staying at the Volcano Village which is outside the Volcano Park. This is the only hotel inside the park. The only complaint my friend had about the rooms was that there was no TV - luckily the rooms had free wifi and I had my iPad with me so I could shut my friend up. I guess the idea of not having a TV was to really get a feel of the nature where people could relax in the lanai staring at the crater day and night instead.

lobby with fireplace

lanai view of the Halama'uma'u crater

the Halama'uma'u crater

view to the right

2 room key cards + a $50 dining credit card

Standard guest room

2 Queen beds for a maximum occupancy of 4

the crater view approaching dusk - you can see the red glow

the hotel staff advised us we could take a quick walk down this short hiking trail just beside the hotel to get a slightly
closer view of the crater at night - however, this is as much as my limited camera could capture

as close as my camera could get...

and from my friend's compact camera...

second shot from my friend's compact camera...

MOKUOLA (Coconut Island)

Tourist Info:

Coconut Island Park, 77 Kelipio Place, Hilo, HI 96720
Wikipedia

Features:
small island with coconut trees

Comments:
Um...could not find any coconuts in sight...but if you're looking for a place to have a picnic in Hilo, this could be it.

yes, it is indeed a small island...

but we could not see any coconuts up there...

BIG ISLAND CANDIES

Shop Info:

☺☺☺☺
(Flagship) 585 Hinano Street, Hilo, HI 96720, USA
☎ +1-800-935-5510
Opens daily 08:30-17:00
Company website

Features:
Cookies, candy, coffee

Recommend:
Caramel Dark Chocolate Dipped Macadamia Nut Shortbread (19 cookies) US$10.25 (only available at the Hilo flagship store)

Comments:
Found out that not everything at this flagship store is available at the other branches, so if you are thinking of buying anything later back in Oahu, suggest you double check with the shop assistants which are the ones not available at other stores.